Program Manager Contract Jobs in Waterman, IL (NOW HIRING)

OverviewThe Shermco team offers the opportunity to develop and utilize a broad skill set in commercial, industrial and utility electrical service industry. Shermco is an ideal fit for smart, motivated individuals with a desire to continuously learn and solve complex problems across multiple applications. We work closely with our customers to provide unique engineering solutions not offered by traditional consulting or field-service firms. Program Managers on the Shermco teammust be confident, self-motivated individuals who can clearly and consistently communicate with both internal and external team members and customers. Strong analytical and organizational skills are a must. Prior experience in the electrical industry is not required but is preferred. Shermco Industries is seeking a Program Manager Location: Greater Chicago areaResponsibilitiesProject Ownership

• Understanding P&L for client projects
• Understand contracts requirements and scope of work
• Protect and improve project margins through disciplined execution
• Maintain accurate forecasting through project completion
• Develop and maintain 12-24 month strategic account plans aligned with customer capital programs and operational priorities.
• Maintain executive-level relationships with key stakeholders for National Accounts.
• Facilitate annual strategic planning sessions with customers and internal leadership.
• Align Shermco service capabilities with customer long-term infrastructure and reliability needs.

Cross Functional Program Coordination

• Coordinate execution across all Shermco organizations, branches and service groups.
• Lead recurring internal program coordination meetings.
• Resolve inter-branch operational conflicts and ensure consistent execution standards.
• Establish and maintain standardized reporting structures and communication cadence across participating branches.

Financial Management

• Monitor estimate-to-actual performance trends.
• Identify early indicators of margin erosion or project risk.
• Track change order capture rates and financial performance drivers.
• Lead quarterly financial performance reviews with executive leadership.

Contract & Scope Control

• Interpret and manage contract requirements
• Ensure scope clarity and enforce structured change management
• Lead RFI development and tracking
• Prevent unauthorized scope execution

Risk Management

• Develop and maintain formal project risk registers
• Maintain a Program Risk Register including safety risks, margin risks, capacity constraints, contractual risks, and reputational risks.
• Conduct monthly program risk reviews.
• Escalate material risks to executive leadership when appropriate
• Proactively mitigate safety, financial, schedule, and resource risks
• Escalate high-impact risks appropriately
• Lead contingency and recovery planning

Operational Governance

• Promote consistent operational standards across the program including safety compliance, estimating discipline, project controls, and documentation standards.
• Lead program-level lessons learned reviews to improve future execution.

Customer Relationship Management

• Serve as primary client interface
• Maintain quarterly executive touchpoints with strategic customers.
• Lead Executive Business Reviews (EBRs).
• Own resolution of escalated operational or service issues.
• Monitor customer satisfaction and service quality metrics Schedule Management
• Lead project update meetings and executive briefings
• Navigate conflict professionally while protecting Shermco's interests
• Develop opportunities for repeat business

Sales, Growth and Execution

• Lead cross-functional teams including technicians, engineers, and subcontractors
• Conduct structured project kickoff meetings
• Drive execution quality and minimize rework
• Ensure disciplined documentation and turnover standards
• Identify opportunities to expand Shermco's services within strategic accounts.
• Ensure pricing alignment across regions and branches.
• Participate in review of large proposals to ensure strategic alignment.
• Prevent uncoordinated pricing or discounting across Shermco regions.
• Support capture strategies for large capital projects.

Executive Reporting

• Provide clear project performance updates to senior leadership
• Present risk summaries, financial forecasts, and mitigation plans
• Participate in post-project reviews and lessons learned sessions

Qualifications

Required (Must Have) Qualifications

• 5-10 years of program or project management experience ideally managing a national account in multiple sites 
• Experience in any of the following: electrical construction, NETA testing, electrical commissioning,  engineering services, industrial field services, power systems services, electrical infrastructure, and working knowledge of medium- and low voltage electrical systems or related technical field
• Demonstrated financial literacy and ability to interpret project financials
• Experience managing or overseeing large programs or projects exceeding $1M
• Proven ability to coordinate multi-site or multi-branch operations
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong financial acumen including budgeting, forecasting, and margin management
• Experience interpreting contracts and managing change orders
• Proven ability to lead large field teams and multi-disciplinary resources

Desired (Nice to Have) Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree preferred
• PMP certification or formal project management training
• Background in utility, industrial, data center, or mission-critical environments
• Experience managing enterprise-level customer relationships

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER | DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE

Shermco is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.  Shermco is a drug-free workplace.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Pay RangeUSD $165,000.00 - USD $190,000.00 /Yr.Employment Type: FULL_TIME